Prince Hisahito Turns 18: First Male Member of Japan’s Imperial Family to Reach Adulthood in Nearly 40 Years
Prince Hisahito, nephew of Emperor Naruhito and second-in-line to the Chrysanthemum Throne, marked a significant milestone as he turned 18. This makes him the first male member of Japan’s imperial family to reach adulthood in nearly four decades, following his father, Prince Akishino, who reached adulthood 39 years ago.
Prince Hisahito is the only son of Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko. On his 18th birthday, he expressed his eagerness to embrace new opportunities and learn from every experience. He said, “I hope to learn more through each and every experience, absorbing various aspects and growing through them.”
Born on September 6, 2006, Prince Hisahito is a third-year student at Senior High School at Otsuka, University of Tsukuba. The Imperial Household Agency announced that his Coming-of-Age ceremony and press conference will be scheduled for spring 2025 or later, after his high school graduation, to ensure his studies remain unaffected.
Prince Hisahito is also the first imperial family member to reach adulthood under Japan’s revised Civil Code, which lowered the age of adulthood to 18 from 20 in April 2022. Princess Aiko, the only child of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, celebrated her coming of age after turning 20 in 2021.
Doubts Revealed
Prince Hisahito -: Prince Hisahito is a young prince from Japan. He is the nephew of the current Emperor of Japan, Naruhito.
Emperor Naruhito -: Emperor Naruhito is the current ruler of Japan. He is like a king in other countries.
Chrysanthemum Throne -: The Chrysanthemum Throne is a special name for the position of the Emperor of Japan. It is called this because the chrysanthemum flower is a symbol of the Japanese royal family.
Coming-of-Age ceremony -: A Coming-of-Age ceremony is a special event that celebrates when a young person becomes an adult. In Japan, this is a very important tradition.
Civil Code -: The Civil Code is a set of laws in Japan. It includes rules about many things, like when a person is considered an adult.
